The Big Bad Wolf

Chapter 1

Textbook - "Before the wolves hunt in Britain, shepherds couldn't keep flocks. Wolves attacked travellers on every road."

"Rulers paid for every wolf killed--usually during cubbing season when wolves were vulnerable."

"Eventually, the wolves were wiped out..."

"Airie?"

I slammed my notebook shut over the wolf I'd been doodling.

My brother taps the book he was reading from.

"I apologize for boring you, but you're the one who asked me for tutoring help." My brother Sam says.

"I know. I'm sorry. Maybe I need a  break."

"But we only just started."

"The school charter says we can go here for free, but they can still kick us out for bad grades."

"Don't remind me."

"This is your third year. You really should've picked a major by now." 

"If you don't want to be here five more years, you need to focus."

I know he only says it because he's concerned. Last year was rough for me, for reasons beyond my control.

But getting desperate to find my path is what got me into this mess. I overfilled my plate with classes and projects and research, and now I'm behind with all of it.

And I still don't know what I want to do with my life.

I shake my hair out of my face, take a huge breath, and set my head on the table.

"I'm focused now; I can do it. Let's keep going."

But Sam doesn't open the textbook again.

He's looking at me instead, with the eyes I recognize from a childhood of scraped knees and lost toys.

"You know... you don't have to keep going."

"Nobody said college is mandatory."

"Oh, sure. Tell that to Professor Mom and Professor Dad."

He gives me a wry smile that understands all too well.

"Well, look at me. I dropped out of law school."

"I knew it wasn't right for me. It's okay to figure that out late."

"Yeah, but...is an MBA right for you instead?"

"Do you really want to be here?"

"Of course."

He says it easily, but there's none of his usual conviction in his eyes.

He hasn't been the same since his ex-boyfriend went and stomped on all his feelings.

I just want to see Sam feel sure again. Like he always used to.

So I can focus if it means he stops worrying about me.

"Let's get back to work."

"I want to find my passion. Some kind of real, solid purpose."

"Maybe it's wolves! Who knows!"

Sam raises an eyebrow as I take the book back from him.

"You're a big help. You always are. But I want you to stop fretting about me."

He needs to focus on himself right now.

"Why don't you head home? I'll study on my own for another hour or two and I'll meet you later."